found it on google earth... got curious. It has a rectangular moat around it. Why?
2007-08-21 05:54:23 · 5 answers · asked by dh 4 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ China
It's forbidden means no ordinary people can enter it. It's not more forbidden than European palaces. Like a regular person could not swim in the artificial lake of Versailles during Louis XVI, because that where the French King was. Similar, the whole forbidden city is a big yard with buildings inside. In those buildings, lived the emperor, his concubines, eunuchs, and maids. Some buildings are also office buildings where the emperor meet his ministers. Of course a regular John Doe is forbidden to enter such a place.
The moat serve the same purpose of all moats in the world: as a defense.
Maybe the only special thing of this Forbidden City is that it's way bigger than most European Palaces, while the latters were mostly also "forbidden" and with moat.
2007-08-21 07:32:59 · answer #1 · answered by senor_mongol 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because of Fengshui.
Actually Forbidden City is the largest Siheyuan or quadrangle,which is a typical form of ancient Chinese architecture in the North.
Their design reflects the traditions of China, following the rules of feng shui and the patriarchal, Confucian tenants of order and heirarchy.
Chinese built Forbidden City into a rectangular with tall walls because they believe that could protect the house from evil spirits,and also this kind of structure follows the order of the universe and the power of nature.
2007-08-21 13:45:32 · answer #2 · answered by 凹^_^凹 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
:Forbidden city" is a modern translation from the mandarin name. zi jin cheng - which means purple color forbidden city.
This structure is actually the imperial palace built in the mid ming to qing dynasty. (some of the travel brochures will mention it as the imperial palace, now is also know as the palace museum.)
During the reign... Purple color is the imperial color used only by the royal family and the commoners are not permitted to use it or it will bring execution to the whole clan. Thus it is not ermitted to be seen in the palace grounds.
The moat around it served very much like all other moats around the castle in europe.
2007-08-22 00:09:46 · answer #3 · answered by QingAiDe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When it was built in the early 1400s, it was a palace where only people selected by the Emperor could enter. Mostly Aristocrats, the top elite rich, servants, and diplomats. Today it is a tourist attraction. The moat was to help keep people out and make it harder to scale the walls.
2007-08-21 13:05:31 · answer #4 · answered by Todd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because certain people were forbidden from entering, and lots more. it's really complicated for me.
2007-08-21 20:25:13 · answer #5 · answered by rmon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋